Bringing UC pendency to zero: Assam Finance department sets October deadline

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Non-submission of fund Utilization Certificates (UCs) on time continues to be a nagging problem. The situation came to such a pass in the State that the Finance department had to set the deadline of October end, 2020 for the defaulting departments to "avoid any kind of action".

The State Finance department reviewed the status of submission of UCs by various administrative departments recently. Since time and again various departments have been failing to comply with the directive to submit their UCs on time, the meeting fixed the deadline, and the Finance department asked the departments to "bring down pendency of utilization certificates for the year 2016-17 and 2017-2018 to zero without fail to avoid any kind of action".

According to Finance department rules, actions that can be initiated against defaulting DDOs (Drawal and Disbursement Officers) are – stopping their monthly salaries, followed by departmental action against them. This apart, no ceiling will be issued against the defaulting administrative departments/DDOs.

The problem has been a chronic ailment in the State administration despite repeated objections by the AG (Accountant General). Even the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) had to raise objections many a time for the failure of several government departments in submitting their UCs on time. The Ministry also issued a note of warning like stopping funding or not releasing the subsequent installments of grants.

During the review meeting on October 16, 2020, the Principal Secretary, Finance, asked the departments the reasons behind their failure to submit the UCs on time. Quoting Assam Finance Rules, the Principal Secretary said, "Every grant made for a specified object is subject to the implied condition that the grant shall be spent on the object within a reasonable time."

He asked the departments to stick to this Rule in letter and spirit and submit the UCs against any grant released by the Government of Assam to the AG within the prescribed time.

In their replies, though some departments said that they had submitted their UCs to the AG office, yet UCs are reflected in the AG office as pending.

The Principal Secretary further said that he would take up the issue with the AG. He, however, made it clear to the departments that they should not miss the deadline.

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